Installing d&d fatcat
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,364
Likes: 40
From: Los Angeles, CA
Well on my softail version the instruction said to put on the head pipes loosely and then everything from rear to front which is what I did. I may be mistaken, but it worked for me.
Drew
Drew
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
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From:
I don't think there is much difference between the Boss Fat Cat install for '09 and later than the earlier Fat Cat. On a Touring bike front to rear is kind of irrelevant since the muffler slides in its mount under the saddlebag. On mine I just hung the pipe on the studs on the exhaust ports then just snugged up the nuts. Then loosly install the tranny mount but leave it loose enough to move up and down. Then install the muffler with the little bell shaped heat shield using the two 1/2 inch spacers in the muffler stand off. Look at it to see if it looks straight. Tighten the bolts into the muffler. Then slide the tranny mount to meet the tab on the pipe, and install that bolt and nut to secure the pipe to the tranny mount. Tighrten the muffler clamp and the belll shaped heat shield. Then tighten the tranny mount with a cut off 3/8" Allen wrench. There isn't a lot of clearance. Finally tightenen and torque the flange nuts at the exhaust port. I found the tranny mount in the middle to be the critical point for alignment. All in all taking off the old exhaust is harder than installing a Fat Cat.
Last edited by Northside; Mar 25, 2011 at 11:33 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 709
Likes: 1
From: Maine
One page on my 2009-2010 touring 2-1 instructions say exactly that but if you look close it says for sport bike full systems. On my first page it says install whole system loosely and start from the head pipe back. I called D&D and Leonard said headpipe first as stated in the HD service manual. Can't see how a v-twin softail would be different but who knows. I have both Fatcat and Boarzilla instructions which say install system loosely making sure mounting tab on headpipe is on top of transmission mount and tighten headpipe per factory specs then front to rear. I would think that it makes sense to get your headpipe seated in the exhaust ports before you lock the muffler and headpipe mounting bracket.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 709
Likes: 1
From: Maine
Well that's great but if you read your service manual or the D&D instructions it would have instructed you differently that's all i brought up on this topic.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
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From: 'Noke, VA
Actually, the Softail instructions don't say that (or at least they didn't 2 years ago when I installed the Lowcat). Regardless, it's actually easier to keep things aligned if you go back to front.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 709
Likes: 1
From: Maine
Well you should notify HD and D&D that their installation is az backwards
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
Or I could just enjoy the pipe and the bike and ride rather than obsessing about printed instructions.
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 709
Likes: 1
From: Maine
I agree,find a mechanic to properly service your bike and enjoy the ride.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
If that's what peels your banana. I'll keep doing my work myself if it's ok with you.